Composition of matter for lubricating steam-cylinders and the like



LUTHER B. LOCKl-IART, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

COMPOSITION OF MATTER FOR LUBRICATING- STEAM-CYLINDERS AND THE LIKE.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER B. LooKHART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Composition of Matter for Imbricating Steam-Cylinders and the like, of which the following is a specifi cation.

My invention relates to a composition of.

matter for lubricating steam cylinders, steam valves, and the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a composition of matter of the above mentioned character, adapted to increase the atomization of the oil by the steam; to increase the viscosity and the ad hesiveness of the oil deposited on the cylinder walls; to reduce the amount of fixed oil required in the finished cylinder oil, or to eliminate the employment of such fixed oil, under certain conditions; to reduce the total consumption of the cylinder oil; and to increase the ease andthoroughness of application of a high viscosity oil to the cylinder walls.

In the production of my composition of matter, I employ a cylinder oil or cylinder stock, or similar material, preferably having a higher viscosity than would ordinarily be used for the lubrication of steam cylinders,'steam valves, or the like, under normal working conditions. To this cylinder oil or cylinder stock is added a limited amount of light mineral oil distillate or distillates, or oils of similar ,nature to such distillates, which oils are not normally used for lubricating purposes, or for steam cylinder lubricating purposes. To this composition, I may add a proper amount of fixed oil, While the fixed oil may be omitted. The light mineral oil distillate or distillates which may be used to the best advantage are the distillates generally between heavy gasolene or naphtha and regular lubricating oils. I have also found that light spindle oils may be used, under certain condltions, such as in connection with the high viscosity stocks for use in lubricating superheated steam cylinders. The light mineral oils, which I preferably employ are kerosene, mineral seal oil, mineral sperm oil, very light spindle oil, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1'7, 1920.

Application filed August 28, 1918. Serial N 0. 251,823.

oils of similar nature or volatility tothese above mentioned oils.

The addition of small amounts of the above referred to light oil distillates greatly lowers the viscosity of the heavy cylinder oils or stock, which is probably due to the special colloidal character of these heavy oils. It is therefore unnecessary to use large amounts of the light oils. I preferably employ not more than four to s1x per cent. by weight of the light oils to the Weight of the heavy oils or stocks, although my invention is in no sense restricted to this specific proportion as special conditions may require a greater or less amount of the light oils. In some instances as high as eight per cent. of the light oils is necessary. Such special conditions are low steam pressure, high steam pressure, superheated steam, which present a large range of working conditions. Also, the large range of viscosity of the cylinder oils or stocks may require the employment of a greater or less amoimt of the light oils. Also, by this method of cutting back the heavy oil or stock for this purpose, the amount of fixed oil, such as tallow oil, can be considerably reduced. I have found that the fixed oil may be advantageously employed in about four per cent. by weight to the Weight of the composition containing the heavy and light oils, and that under certain conditions the fixed oil may be dispensed with.

The composition of matter produced as above indicated consists of a large amount of .very heavy undistilled oil, such as the usual steam cylinder oils or stocks, and a limited or small amount of light distillate or distillates, so that there is produced a more or less decided gap in the hydrocarbons present, as far as the boiling points is concerned, and the composition may be said to be made up of heavy and light ends.

The following are specific examples of products employing my invention:

(A) For saturated steam cylinders:

Cylinder stock of 200 Saybolt viscosity at 210 F 93% Mineral oil of 175 C. to 250 C. boiling point 3% Tallow oil 4% I has been found that in many cases,

(B) For superheated steam cylinders:

Cylinder stock of 220 Saybolt viscosity at 210 F 96% Mineral seal oil 4% In the use of ordinary lubricating oils, it I from sixty to eighty per cent. or more of the cylinder oil, which is supplied through the lubricator, does no real work in lubricating the cylinder or other parts. This is due largely to the improper atomization of the oil.

My lubricating composition of matter has a viscosity which is normal or a little below normal. This lubricating composition of matter is fed in the usual manner through a lubricator or by other means to the cylinders or to the steam cylinder or steam valves. Since the lubricating composition of matter has a substantially normal viscosity, it would be atomized .by the steam as readily as the ordinary cylinder oil, under like steam conditions. However, on account of the high vapor pressure of my lubricating composition, due to the added light oils, the vapor formation under the influence of the action of steam, aids in the morecomplete atomization of the composition of matter. It is therefore apparent that the increased atomization which is very desirable is thereby obtained.

In the use of my lubricating composition of matter, duringthe atomization thereof,

and subsequently thereto, the light oil, in

whole or in part, is boiled off, so that the resulting droplets of oil deposited upon the cylinder wall or the like have a. higher viscosity, takin into consideration the temperature, than t e viscosity of the original composition of matter, fed through the lubricator, and higher than could have been atomized by 'thesteam pressure available. 'The oil thus deposited upon the cylinder walls has a higher viscosity than the ordinary lubricating oils so deposited and consequently less oil will do the same amount of work. The higher viscosity oil has a greater adhesiveness than the low viscosity oil and consequently offers greater resistance to the wiping off action, due to the motion of the piston and valves. The high viscosity oil also offers greater resistance to the wetting and displacing action of condensed water and wet steam. This increased adhesiveness and resistance to the action of displacement of my lubricating composition, makes it possible to reduce the amount of fixed oil,

such as tallow oil, ordinarily added to the.

of the lightdistillates above mentioned,

therefore, in a measure, takes place of fixed oils. The reduction of the amount of fixed oil is desirable from a standpoint of economy and to prevent the possible action on the cylinder walls, pistons and valves, due to the formation of acid. Under normal workin conditions, the most, if not all of the lig t oils vaporized, remains permanently uncondensed, whereby the viscosity and adhesiveness of the heavy oil deposited on the cylinder walls is ordinarily permanent, which results in good lubrication with a reduction in the amount of oil employed. The amount of oil lost by vaporization is believed to be insignificant in comparison with the saving obtained by better atomization and greater viscosity and adhesiveness.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes may be resorted to in the manner in which the several ingredients of the composition are combined and that known chemical equivalents may be employed, without departing from the spirit 2. A composition. of matter for lubricating steam cylinders, steam valves and the like comprising a very heavy undistilled oil and a lighter oil between naphtha or gasolene and regular lubricating oil and incorporated therewith in a relatively small amount whereby the composition is formed of heavy and light ends with the addition of a relatively small amount of fixed oil, said heavy ends consisting of undistilled cylinder stock and said li ht ends consisting chiefly of oils boiling be ow 300 C.

3. A composition of matter for lubricating cylinders, steam valves and the like, comprising a relatively heavy undistilled oil, approximately from three to four per cent. by weight of light distillates between naphtha or benzin and regular lubricating oils which are lighter than spindle oil, and appro'ximatel four per cent. by weight with respect to t e combined weight of the heavy and light oils of a fixed oil.

4. A; composition of matter for lubricating cylinders, steam valves and the like, comprising a relativelyheavy undistilled oil and lessees approximately from three to four: per cent. cent. or less of e lighter oil between naphtha by weight of light distillates between naph- 0r gasclene and regular lubricating oil. is the or benzin and regular lubricating oils In testimony whereof I affix my signature which are lighter than spindle oil. in presence of two witnesses.

5. A. composition of matter for lubricat LUTHER B. LOCKHART. ing steam cylinders, steam valves and the Witnesses: i like, comprising ninety-two per cent. or more i T. B. HIGDON,

of ery heavy undistilled oil and. eight per J. S. BRQGDON. 

